Tom Richardson is a close mate of mine and inspirational Australian singer/songwriter, who has performed in 15 different countries, had his music featured onRip Curl surfing documentaries and in 2018, hits a decade of travelling the globe with a dream job as a full-time independent musician since the age of 21.

On today’s podcast we chat about Tom Richardson’slatest EP ‘Promise of the Light’, which is due to launch worldwide in early 2018 and was recorded in solace in lakeside cabins in Alberta, Canada and jungle hideaways in Bali, Indonesia, before collaborating with close friends Benny Walker & Tim Bennett in home studios in the Adelaide Hills and with seaside views at his home in Warrnambool, Australia.

We also enjoy vast-ranging chats about the systems & processes and tools that Tom utilises as a small business owner to keep a balanced life of physical & mental health, his favourite podcasts including Song Exploder, The Tim Ferris Show and Pilgrim Heart with Krishna Das, different meditation and yoga techniques that he practices, sharing stages with the likes Joe Bonamassa, Cold Chisel, John Butler Trio and a musical passport of memories including musical collaborations with Native American poets, Indian Kirtan masters, Fijian highland village choirs & indigenous Australian icons. Fascinating chats!

This latest release truly reflects Tom Richardson’s nomadic schedule and his life across the past 10 years, which is a musical odyssey of regular tours around Australia, North America, Asia and Europe leading to “rave reviews, prime festival slots, and international airplay”.

Oh and we snapped up the exclusive 1st worldwide global release of ‘Somebody Say Love’, the first single off Tom Richardson‘s ‘Promise of the Light’ EP! YES!

Super podcast, top bloke. I know you will enjoy the show. Let’s get into it!

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.

Last year I was in Los Angeles and the USA under the ESTA Visa Waiver Program for just under 3 months to explore what Los Angeles was like as a place to be based for work – to see if there was another side to the City of Angels away from the plastic fantastic and then based on these experiences, decide if I wished to pursue theO1 Visa as an option to work in the USA (also known as the O1 Alien of Extraordinary Ability Visa – yes, that’s what it’s called).

Now any Australian who has spent time in Los Angeleswith a Green Card, E3 or O1 Visawill tell you that they have the best US Immigration Lawyer in the USA ever! And chances are that they might, but it’s not all cut & dried and there are some key things that you need to know before you go splash the cash on securing a lawyer in the hopes of chasing the American dream.

This week on Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet! I chat with Los Angeles-based US International Business and Immigration lawyer, Andrea Szew, about:

The 5 Must-Haves When Applying for a US Visa.

How Trump’s administration is affecting foreign nationals’ ability to work in the US 1 year on since taking office and what you as an applicant needs to take into consideration.

Andrea Szew’s life growing up in California, her time at UCLA and what inspired her to become a lawyer specializing in Immigration Law.

Some of the iconic clients Andrea’s worked with including Hootsuite CEO, Ryan Holmes, Australia’s Thunder from Down Under in Las Vegas and much much more.

For context, Andrea and I met through the Aussies in LA/ Australians in LAFacebook Pages, which is a wonderful community of Aussies and a super important resource for any Australian based in or seeking to be approved for a USA visa to work in Los Angeles.

And the good news is that there is SO much more to L.A. than the glitter, gloss and your name up in lights; countless hiking trails in the greater Los Angeles area, live comedy every night of the week, amazing Mexican food, a live music scene that makes your mouth water and I fell in love with the Sports Bar culture too. I’ve found the American people as a whole, from my previous holidays there and on this trip, to be so warm and welcoming, polite and giving. Plus if you need it, there’s this a super supportive community of expat Australians in both Los Angeles and New York City (should you need it) and a whole new country to explore. Loves it!

So if you an Australian businessman/women seeking to work in the USA or you have a friend who is… if you are award-winning digital media professional, an actor, musician, producer or entertainer who believes you have done the hard yards and have what it takes to make it in the USA, then this is the podcast for you!

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.

Yesterday arvo I sat down with Pro Surfers Taj Burrow, Jay Davies and Dino Adrian at Hotel Ravesis in Bondi Beach to launch brand new Western Australian beer, Honest Ale, to the East Coast of Australia.

Honest Ale was born in the Margaret River region of Western Australia in May of 2017 and is the product of these three west oz natives in partnership with the crew at Black Brewing Co.

I actually grew up in Perth and every summer holidays we’d head down to the south coast of WA to Busselton (or Busso as the locals call it) in the Margaret River region and I have so many happy memories of that magical part of the world!

Inspiring chats as Taj, Jay and Dino share their earliest ever childhood memories, what the Honest Ale name means and what Black Brewing Co did to bring their dreams into reality and their advice for any one of you who has a dream, but is afraid to take that first step.

Super chats, super night out with the boys in Bondi Beach. Let’s get into it!

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.

WOW! International Business Review Conference contacted me earlier this year and asked if I would like to speak at their ‘Future Social Media’ Conference in Melbourne this month and in Sydney next year.

As soon as they asked, I replied “Damn straight, as long as I can do it as a live podcast presentation with an industry guest”. IBRC jumped on board and the next thing you know I was jetting down to Melbourne to ‘Future Social Media 2017′ for my live social media feature presentation and podcast withCarat media agency Senior Business Manager, Harry McGoldrick, who works with wicked brands across a range of industries including Disney, Mattel, Marvel and more!

The Next Wave of Brand Influencer Campaigns. Pivoting from the wanna-be Instagram model to working with and upskilling influencers to create campaigns with a measurable uplift in Sales and Return On Investment.

Describe your favourite or one of your favourite campaigns that you’ve seen or been a part of in the digital space. What was it that you liked about it and why?

What’s one way a creative/digital agency can do as far as ways of working to make your like easier as a Senior Business Manager at Carat?

What brands do you think are nailing it in the digital space at the moment utilising a combination of amazing creative and the latest in advertising solutions.

Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – The Ghost Ship on Sydney Harbour.

How did the Ghost Ship concept come about?

What was one of the most unexpected elements about bringing the activation to life?

How did it work?

What are digital platform products and developments on the horizon in 2018 that excite you and that you think digital marketers should be across?

Given that one of the imperatives as a Media Agency is demonstrating ROI to clients. What things are you looking for when working with influencers and how would you like to influence change in how these influencers are being used?

If you would like to follow allow with the PowerPoint presentation and all the resources mentioned in the show, then download them here:

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.

Did you ever dream of goose-stepping up the wing like the Wallabies’ David Campese in the World Cup? Steaming in with bullets like Dennis Lillie against the Poms to win the Ashes? Or taking three World titles and two Commonwealth Games gold medals like Aussie netballer Liz Ellis?

Well, NSW Waratahs and Australian Wallabies rugby union prop Paddy Ryan is chasing his dreams at the level elite! This Australian rugby union footballer currently has 93 caps for the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby and 3 caps for the Australian national rugby union team the Wallabies and in today’s cracking podcast we delve into the Paddy Ryan’s minds eye as he describes for us the experience of what it’s like to walk out for the Wallabies for the very first time, how you handle the nerves and singing the national anthem to his parents in the crowd, chest swelling with pride, his 1st ever game for the Wallabies at Stade Français Paris, winning a Super Rugby championship with the NSW Waratahs, the state of play in Australian rugby, writing articles for the Union Live app, the impending Andrew ‘Twiggy’ ForrestIndo Pacific Rugby Championship, the sense of responsibility and community that drive him forward as a player and an individual, Paddy Ryan’s work with batyr, an organisation that focuses on preventative education in the area of youth mental health and much more.

Super engaging chats! This podcast episode is a must for any rugby mad NSW Waratahs, Wallabies rugby union fan or anyone who’s ever harboured a dream of representing their country at the highest level!

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.

The Wiggles’ signature index finger-wagging move – which Wiggles came up with it and where it came from.

Murray Cook’s musical inspirations growing up – the first vinyl record he bought, stole or burned.

The Soul Movers soul, rock, pop and folk band – how the band came to be, what it means to him and one of the band founders, Lizzie Mack.

What inspiredMurray Cook, Anthony Field and Greg Page to form The Wiggles in 1991.

The Wiggles song writing process and the methods behind it.

The hardest part about leaving The Wiggles and the freedom it allowed him to further pursue his passion for guitar and music.

An exclusive acoustic live set byThe Soul Movers at the end of the podcastfeaturing Murray Cook and charismatic frontwoman Lizzie Mack.

Remo Giuffré (TEDxSydney founder & director):

The repeating theme and motivation that has driven Remo Giuffré’s career forward as an entrepreneur, retail merchant and brand builder in Australia, San Francisco and New York.

TEDxSydney – an annual flagship TEDx event which has become the leading platform for the propagation of Australian ideas, innovation and creativity to the rest of the world.

How the TEDxSydney event came about.

The biggest challenges about running the TEDxSydney events that he didn’t anticipate and how he worked through them.

Who’s been one of the TEDxSydney speakers who’s inspired Remo the most so far & why.

REMO General Store, the General Thinking network and the General Think Book.

The joys and business challenges of REMO General Store.

General Think Book – the fascinating journey of Remo’s life and what it is like to become an author for the first time.

Both Murray Cook + Remo Giuffré:

Moments of Sheer Joy – Both guests describe in detail a key moment of joy or realisation, a pinch me moments that they’ve had in their career thus far when they’ve thought to themselves “I can’t believe that this is happening right now”.

Drive and Self-motivation – What Murray and Remo each do to motivate themselveson those down days or mornings when they just can’t be bothered.

2 pieces of advice that Murray Cook andRemo Giuffré would give to someone who has a dream, but is afraid to take that first step.

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.

It’s amazing the friends and connections that you can make through social media if you put yourself out there!

This week’s very special guest on Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet! is comedian, writer & MTV presenter, Sam Taunton. Sam and I met via Twitter through Sri Lankan-born Australian-based stand-up comic and actor, Dilruk Jayasinha 2 years ago, after Dilruk was a guest of mine on the show.

Bursting onto the scene in the 2015 Triple J RAW Comedy National Final, of late Sam Taunton has been juggling stand up and various media projects including being MTV Australia’s newest VJ and in 2017 was nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Sam Taunton has performed on ABC2’s Comedy Up Late, MTV, SBS, Channel [V], ABC Radio, NOVA and Triple J, has just recorded his 1st hour-long special for ABC and now he’s on my show!

Ever wanted to know the steps & tenacity it takes to be come a stand-up comic?

Dan Wilkinson is founder of travel, entertainment & lifestyle biz/brand, Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet and one of Australia’s most experienced social media professional who has driven social media for a range of international brands including Cancer Council Australia, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Peroni Italian Beer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese & more.